Electric toaster



sept' 4, 1951 c. A. I INDBERG 2,567,075

ELECTRIC TOASTER Filed Oct. l, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheer. l

SePty 4, 1951 c. A. LINDBERG 2,567,075

ELECTRIC TOASTER Filed Oct. l, 1945 Y 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 4, 1951 -c. A. LINDBERG ELECTRIC TOASTER Filed Oct. l, 1945 p fee /55 57 5% 4/ aww 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 /A/x/EA/TQQ: Cama H. 1/mask@ Sept. 4, 1951 c. A. LINDBERG 2,567,075

ELECTRIC TOASTER Filed Oct. l, 1945 Sheets-Sheet 4 @MW @uw da Patented Sept. 4, 1951 UNITED STATE-s PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC ToAs'rER .Caryl A.,Lindbe r.g, Glendale, Mo., Lassignor to The Emerson VI Jieotrio Manufacturing Company, St. Louis, Mo .,ra, coiporation of Missouri Application October 1, 1.9.4.5, .Serial No.- 619,639

(Cl. 1Sil-3.28)

9 Claims.-

The present invention relates .to .an ...electric` period, preceded by fa thermostatically controlled variable timing period, the variation of which is a function .of the .heat of the toaster at -the start of theftoastingfoperation,

It is a further object of the invention to pro- Avide the foregoing control with means -for regulating the time of the toasting operation so 'as to obtain dark, mediumorlignt toast.

A further object vof the invention .is toprovide n control .of the foregoing `kind wherein .the

thermostatic .control is cfiected .by a relay Yoperation.

A further object is to provide such a toaster v'control that automatically accommodates varia- 'tions in voltage.

A further object ofthe invention `is to provide la toaster control vof the foregoing type wherein vthe fixed timing period is determined .by an elec.-

tric motor, and particularly .a Vconstant speed `electric motor.

A further objecto the invention-,is to provide a toaster of this kind wherein the control mecha- Y-nism may be entirely llocated Outside'of fthe toastingl chamber.

'Further objects yinclude the provision of `control .mechanism and toaster supporting .mechanisrn that may b e readily .manniactnred .and

.easilyassembled ,In the drawings;

Figilis amend view of the-toaster:

Fig. 2 is `aplan view thereof;

Fig. 3 isa-side elevation;

4 is an end elevation from the .end OPPO* .siie Fis. `l:

Fig. 5 is a verticaliongitudinalsection taken on the broken line 5-45 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 .is ahorizonta1..section .taken .at .the top ontheline S-Gof Fig. ,3;

Fig. 17 is a vertical transverse section through the control parts taken on the line .1 -.1. of Fig. 2,; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section of part .of .the ,trip mechanism when onthe..1ine..8.-.8.cf..Fi e.. 5;

Fig. `9 is a transverse section taken on the line V9*-9 of `Fig. 6 showing the toaster inthe process of heating: w

Fig. A10 is a View similar to Fig. 9 showing the toaster at the point of release;

Fig. 1,1 is a plan view of the switchmechanisin;

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the switch mechanism; l

Fig. 1 3 is ga, fragmentary side elevation, .partly in section, with certain parts removed; l

Fig. lfi is a section on the `line Ill-I4 at the ,bottom of Fig. 1,3;

Fig. 15 is a pian View of the parts in Fig. 13;

' Fig. 1S isa plan view of part of the bread supporting rack; land Fig. 1'7 is a wiring diagram of the toaster.

The toaster includes a base 2Q, preferably formed from plastic material. This base is in the general shape of an open rectangle. On its inner surface it is provided with a ledge to receive a base plate 2|. This basev plate or plat.- form 2l is Aheld elevated by .the base 240 and' prov,v iddesthe means upon which the .Varionsmechanical .elements of the toaster are supported.

The toaster is provided with two toasting .coin- -partrnents and a control compartment. The control compartment is .separated by a transverse partition 23 rising from the platform 2l at a vdistance inwardly from one end thereof. There is an Jopposite partition 24 yalso supportedfrom, and

.extending upwardly from, the platform 2l. Eix- .tending between the two partitions .23..and 2li are A a plate 25,.a plate 26. and a plate 21, The plates 25,2.,1id 2l yare the saine. ItY will be seen by par.-

.ticularreference to Figs. 5, 13 vand 14, that the partition 23 has adjacent its lower edge two inturned ears `29 and 30. The partition 2 4 has similar ears V3l nand 32. The ears Sil'and V312 4are oifsetbackwardly `from the ears 29 and 31| adistance approximately equal to the thickness of ,thesheet vforming the plate ,25. At their upper edges the plates .2 3 and v2li` have identical yslots .-33 .extending downwardly. .These slots .receive 4ears .,314 ,that extend outwardly from the Vupper .edges ofthe plate `.2,5 and are tiirnedat 90.` It thus .may be seen that the plate 2.5 may be slipped down .S0 .thatthe lower extremes of its two lside edges engage packof the two ears 29 and 3| .and

forwardly of .the two ears 36 and 32 while the two ears ,34 on its upper edge are engaged in ltheslots 3370i the two partitions 23 and 24. vThe engagement of the ears 314 in theslots 33 thereby stabilizes the 4.plates 4against rocking movement, `and the partitions E23 and 24 against ,enclws 'face of the heating element.

fing element are connected in series.

The plate 21 is similarly located between the opposite edges of the partitions 23 and 24; and the partitions have similar ears 35 received in similar slots 36.

The plate 26 divides the upper openingr between the edges of the plates 25 and 21 and the two partitionsl into two bread-receivingslots. This plate has downturned side flanges 38 and 39. At the opposite ends of the flange 38, two bent-over ears 40 project and are engageable within slots 4| in the partitions 23 and 24. The

flange 39 of the plate 26 has similar ears 42 that engage in slots 43.

' these alignedV holes.

By the foregoing construction, the plates 25,

26 and 21 may all be Withdrawn by simply lifting them upwardly after the outer cover of the toaster is removed. The plates and partitions mutually stabilize each other. y

This toaster is provided with four heating elements, Actually reach of the elements comprises a double heating unit. As they are identical, a description of one will suice for all. Each unit has a metal rib 48 across its top edges in the form of a longitudinally overlapped strip. Suspended by the rib 48 are the two sheets 49 and 50 of insulating material such as mica, upon the inner surfaces of which are wound the heating coils.

The several heating elements are designated at 5|, 52, 53 and 54. The heating element 5| has its rib element 48 suspended between the partitions 23 and 24 by engagement within a first vpair of slots 55 in the two partitions. In similar manner the second heating unit 52 is mounted in slots 56; the third element 53 in slots 51; and the fourth velement 54 in slots 58. It will be seen that the heating element 5| is beneath the overhanging top part of the plate 25. 53 are disposed under the plate 26, and the heating element 54 is disposed under the plate 21.

The bottom plate 2| has turned-up lugs to engageon opposite sides of the bottom edges of the several heating elements. particularly to the heating element 5| (Figs. 13, 14)., it will be seen that the plate 2| has a rst lug 60 upstruck to be engaged by the inner .sur-

Next, there lis a lug 6| that engages the outer surface. Then, a

lug 62 engages the inner surface, and, similarly,

the lugs 63 and 64 engage the outer and inner surfaces respectively. All of the several heating elements are held in like manner at their bottom edges. They may, therefore, be inserted into the toaster very readily from the top side thereof.

The two heating units 49 and 50 of each heat- The currenty path is from the lower corner of the unit 5,0 upwardly to its top, then across to the top of the adjacent unit 5|, and down to the bottom thereof. The four heating units are connected in parallel. To this end a jumper 68 is connected between the inlet terminals of the two heating elements 5| and 52, the jumper being screwed to both elements. The screw that attaches the jumper 68 to the element 52 passes through a spacer 69 and then acts also to hold a jumper 10 The two middle heating elements 52 and Thus, referring to the heating element 53, at the same time aty taching the elements 52 and 53 togetherelectrically. The jumper 10 is also attached by a screw to the element 54.

`In similar fashion a jumper 'Il connects the outgoing leads of the heating elements 5| vand 52,. One end of it is connected by a screw that v The principal electrical connections through the toasting compartments comprise a main intake'cable 83, the two leads of which are connected to terminals 84 and 85 on the partition 24 (Fig. l15). The terminal 84 is connected by a lead 86 with the terminal by which the jumper 68 is joined to the jumper 10, and the inlet sides of the several heating elements are connected. Outside of the Aheating element 5| the jumper `68 also carries a lead 81 for a purpose that will appear.

The voutlet ends of the heating elements are connected by allead 88, attached outside `the heating element 54, with the jumper 13.

The other main terminal on the partition 24 is connected by a lead 89 which extends into the control mechanism for purposes that will appear. v

It will be seen that all of the elements thus far described in connection with the toasting compartments may be readily removed. The

vplates 25, 25 and 21 are liftable away. The electrical connections may be unscrewed, and thereafter all of the electrical parts may be lifted upwardly and Withdrawn.

The toaster is of the pop-up type. There is a vertically reciprocable bread support extending into each of the two toasting compartments. These bread supports comprise two cantilever beams 90 and 9| having a plurality of lugs projecting from opposite sides-of the top edge thereof, the lugs providing a means to support the slices of bread. l

yThe two beams 90 and 9| are secured to the projecting ends 92 and 93, respectively, of a :toast-rack support generally indicated at 94, the main part of which is disposed outside of the partition 23. This rack is shown separately in Fig. 16. The partition is slotted at 96 and 91, respectively, sothat the two arms 92 and 93 may pass therethrough and reciprocate vertically.

Immediately back of the partition 23 are disposed two vertical rods 98 and 99. These rods have reduced portions forming shoulders at their lower ends, the reduced portions passing through holes in the plate 2l. 'At their tops, the rods 9 8 and 99l are similarly provided with reduced portions to pass through a horizontal ledge |0| on a bracket |00. This bracket has a vertical ledge |02 which extends-upwardly from the ledgel I0| on this bracket and receives screws by means of which ,the bracket is secured at its upper end to the partition 23. The lower end of the bracket has an inturned flange |03 that rests on the upper surface'of the bottom platev 2| and lis screwed thereto. A

The bracket |00 likewise has a downwardly and outwardly extending projection' |04 tdwhich is bolted the upper end of a third rod |05. The bot,-` tom'end of this third rod'passes through andr is secured 'into the bottom plate-2|. '1

A-s heretofore mentioned;` 'the toastrack" supvport 94 (Fig. v16), consists of -a more orless H- '-part |08. The connecting part is welded to a slide vbracket |09, the ends of which are rolled over at ||0 and to embrace the two vertical rods 98 and 99, respectively. The slide bracket also has a horizontal ear I2 for a purpose to be described. The toast-rack support has a latching arm ||3 projecting b'ackwardly from the arm 92. It also has a switch-operating arm ||4 projecting backvwardly from the rack-supporting arm 93. This arm ||4 supports a roller ||5 mounted on a suitable pivot.

A coil spring |24 is attached at the top to the horizontal ledge IDI of the bracket |00. Atits bottom, this coil spring is engaged in the ear ||2 yof the bracket 94. toast-rack support a constant upward force.

A latching lever IIB (Figs. 9, is pivotally mounted at l1 to the lower part of the partition 23. A torsion spring ||8 constantly urges the latching lever ||6 counterclockwise. The lever ||6 is notched at ||9 to receive the latching ear |I 3 on the toast-rack support, to hold the rack in its lowered position against the upward pull of the coil spring |24. The trip or latching lever ||6 is also bent over somewhat at its upper end at |20. As will appear, this puts the upper end of the lever in line with a trip mechanism.

An actuating arm |2| is provided for lowering the toast rack and for releasing the trip. This arm is formed of two stampings |22 and |23. These stampings are shaped to support a vertical bearing sleeve or bushing |25 which surrounds the rod |05 so that the actuating arm is guided for vertical movement thereon. The two members |22 and |23 extend outwardly beyond the rod |05 and have attached thereto a handle I2 Opposite the handle, and on the inside of the rod |05, the two members extend toward the partition 23, and then diverge in two arms |26 and 21 that extend partly around the two rods 98 and 99. YIt will be seen that, 'when the handle |2|" is depressed, the actuating arm |2| slides down on'the rods, and its inner arms |28 and |21 `engage the curled arms ||0 and of the toast supporting bracket 94 to cause the bracket to move downwardly.

The actuating member |2| adjacent its arm |25, has an upwardly extending extension |28. This extension |28 has a trip actuating ear |29 adjacent the top part thereof. This ear |29 is adapted to come into contact with the overhang- 'ing end |20 or" the latching lever IIS, as appears vin Fig. 10. On the side of this upwardly projecting part of the actuating arm, outwardly from the partition 23, there is a gear rack receptacle |30. This receptacle is in the form of a channel, with its open side outwardly. It is closed at its upper end I3 It receives a pin |32 that projects from a head |33 on a rack bar |34 (Figs. 8-10). This rack bar |34 is guided within a track |35 on the inner surface of the bracket |00 (Fig. 8). A torsion "spring |36 supported on the bracket acts against vthe pin |32 and urges the rack bar |34 downward.

The lowermost position of the rack bar |34 is determined by an adjustment arrangement, as appears in greatest detail in Fig. 8. A lever |38 is pivoted at |39 to the bracket |00. The lever engages a cam |40 that is also pivoted to the bracket 00. The lever receives and supports the This spring applies to the g bottom endof the'rack rbar |534 `and `':le'lim'it's "its downward movement. When the cam |40 is adjusted, it will move the lever |38 -to vshift the rack bar upwardly -or permit it to descend under the infiuence of the spring |35, to preset the initial or starting position of the bar. This cam 'is Vsupported on a shaft |4| (Fig. 5), which shaft l'ls mounted in a U-shaped bracket |42 welded onto the base plate 2|. An adjusting handle |43 'is provided to rotate the shaft |4I. This handle passes through a suitable opening inthe base 20.

The rack 4|34 is inmeshwith a pinion |46 that is supported in the bracket |00. This pinion lis driven by a constant speed electric motor |41,

' preferably through gearing. The motor |41 is attached to the outer surface of the bracket |00. An idler wheel |48'holds the rack against Athe pinion.

A main switch, generally 'indicated at |50, and 'a thermostatic switch, generally indicated at |45I, are mounted together on the plate 2| outside the partition 23. They are shown separately in Figs. l1 and 12.

These switches are both mounted on an insulating plate |52 supported, by screw attachment, in spaced relation above the bottom plate 2| of the toaster. The switch v|50 includes a main arm |53 (Figs. 9-12), having downturned ears at one end. These lie along opposite sides of corresponding vupturned ears on a pivot bracket mounted on the plate l|52, and a pivot pin |54! passes through them all. By this means, the arm |53 is pivotally mounted on the base plate |52. The end |55 of the blade |53 is downturned so that it Amay engage the b'ase plate |52 and limit upward pivotal movement of the outer end of the switch blade, as shown in Fig. 7.

The clade |53 carries a spring contact blade |56 attached at one end to the blade |53, and is bowed down between its ends to support a transversely disposed double contact armature |51. The outer end of the contact blade has la 'tongue |55 projecting through the outer end of the blade |53, to permit the outer end of the spring blade to move toward the switch blade |53, but to have limited movement away from it. This accommodates 'override of the downward pivotal action of the blade |53.

The contact armature |51 is adapted to bridge across two fixed contact terminal elements |59 and |59 supported on the base plate |52.

The blade |53 is located so as to be acted upon by the roller 5 on the toast rack support 94 as the latter approaches and reaches its lowermost position. At the position in which the latch bar ||6 holds the toast rack support in its lowermost position (Fig. 10), the armature |51 is closed across the contacts |59 and |60. A torsion spring |5| around the pivot |54 of the blade |52 urges it counterclockwise to open the contacts.

The thermostatic switch |5I, also mounted on the insulating plate |52, has two spring switch blades |51 and |68. They have contacts |69 and |10, respectively. Normally, these contacts are sprung apart. The two blades |61 and |68 are mounted in spaced relationship on the base |52 by insulating spacers |1| and |12. The blade |61 is electrically joined to the contact of the main switch by a jumper |13. The blade |38 is provided with a terminal connector |14.

The contact blades |61 and |58 are adapted to be actuated bya bimetal member |15. This member is shown as being'gen'erally U-sh'aped.

One en'dis attached to a supporting bracket |16 that is mounted upon the base plate |52.

This bimetalhas a free end |11 that extends down above the blade |68 so that when the bimetal bows downwardly the end |11 will push the blade |58 toward the blade |61 to bring contacts |59 and |10 together. Downward movement of the blades is limited by an adjustable screw |18, extending upwardly from the base |52 and insulatedly supported thereon. This screw will determine the amount of heating of the bimetal required to close the contacts. The inherent spring of theblade |61 will keep it in contact with the head of the screw |18.

The bimetal is arranged to be heated by a heater |80 extending over the bimetal. This heater` has downturned legs, one of which is united with the jumper |13, and the other one is attached to a terminal |8|.

The previously mentioned lead 81 (Figs. 6, 7, 15 and 17) is connected to the clock motor |81. The other side of the clock motor is connected by a lead |82 to the connector |14 of the bimetal switch blade |68. The lead 88 (Fig. 15) connects the jumper 13 and the outlet terminals of the heater elements, to the terminal |8| of the bimetal heater |80. The lead 89 is connected t the terminal contact |59 of the main switch.

An outer cover |85, open at the bottom, encloses the operating mechanism. This cover has a slot |86 through which the actuating arm 2| extends to dispose the handle |2| outside the casing. A handle |81 is secured to the opposite end of the casing. Two bread-receiving openings |88 and |89 are provided in the top of the casing. The cover is removably secured to the base 29.

Operation When it is desired to use this toaster, one or two pieces of bread are put into the toasting compartments upon the racks 9|) and 9|. Thereupon, the handle |2| is depressed. It carries the actuating arm |2| downwardly, the same riding on the outer rod |85. The inwardly projecting arms |28 and |21 of the actuator, that extend around the two inner rods 98 and 99, engage over the bearing flanges ||0 and of the toast rack support recprocably mounted upon these two rods. Consequently, the toast rack support is forced downwardly upon depression of the handle |2I.

As the actuating member descends, the trip arm |29 thereof passes under the overhanging end |29 of the latching lever H9, so that the latching lever can move inwardly under the influence of the torsion spring ||8 to hold its inner edge in contact with the latching ledge ||3 of the toast rack support 94. When the toast rack support is lowered to the bottom, this latching arm ||3 will be received in the notch H9 on the lever ||6 and the latching lever IIE will be moved counterclockwise by the spring ||8 to hold the toast rack support in its lower position.

As the toast rack support 94 reaches its lower position, the switch actuating roller |15 thereon engages the arm |53 of the starting switch |58 and pivots the same clockwise (Fig. l0) against the spring to cause the armature |51 to bridge the contacts |59 and 50, and to hold them bridged as long as the toast rack support is latched in its lower position.

From a cold start, the bimetal is in a cold position so that the switch contacts |69 and |10 .are separated. Reference to Fig. 17 will show that, under these circumstances, the heating coils are in circuit in series with the heater |89 and the switch |58. Therefore, the heaters will start to cook the bread and to heat the cooking compartments, and the heater |39 will heat the bimetal to urge the contact |19 toward the contact |69.

After a period of time required to heat the cooking compartments, the bimetal |15 will be so influenced by the heater that it will move the contacts |69 and |19 together. This will close the circuit to the motor |111, which then starts to operate and to lift the rack |34 upwardly. |This upward movement will cause the pin |32 attached to the top of the rack to move upward until it engages the top closure |3| of the channel |39 on the actuating member |2|. After this engagement has been made, further movement of the motor |41 and consequent further lifting of the rack will displace the actuating member |2| upwardly. After a predetermined time, during which such upward movement continues, the release member |29 will engage the overhanging portion |28 of the trip lever ||6 and will move the trip lever counterclockwise, to release the notch H9 from the latching arm ||3 on the toast rack support 94. Thereupon, the distended coil spring I5 will snap the toast rack support upwardly and bring the toast suiciently out of the top of the toaster so that it may be removed. At the same time, the toast rack support will release the switch |50 and disconnect the entire toaster mechanism from any operating circuit. The motor |41 will be deenergized, and the rack |34 depressed to its starting position by the spring |35.

During such time as the toaster is inoperative, the bimetal |15 can cool. However, it remains in circuit throughout the operating periods of the toaster, and after a Very few operations, or, after one operation, if desired, this bimetal |15 will hold the contacts |69 and |19 closed during any ordinarily brief period between successive toasting operations. It has been found that once the toaster has become heated, it cools down s0 slowly that there is no practical need for any adjustment of the initial thermostatically controlled starting portion of the toasting cycle. Consequently, upon a successive toasting operation, with the two contacts |69 and |10 closed at the start, the motor |41 will be started as soon as the handle |25 is depressed and the main switch |50 closed.

To adjust the darkness of the toast, the knob |43 may be turned to change the starting position of the rack bar. If this starting position is elevated, a lesser number of rotations of the motor, and hence a shorter period of time is required to effect release of the latch mechanism.

The selection of the proper warming-up time is effected by adjustment of the screw |18 on the switch |5|. Lowering of this screw increases the heat required to bend the bimetal |15 sufficiently to close the switch, and hence increases the heating time required before the motor can start. This adjustment is ordinarily made at the factory, by determining the time required to bring the toasting compartments up to a steady7 temperature.

The use of the relay consisting of the heater |88 and its bimetal switch automatically accommodates voltage variations, as the time required to close the bimetal switch is a function of voltage, as is the time required to toast the bread;

'and disassembly` aser-,07s

The parts are all .capable of quick assembly When the casing |85v isramoved, the control'compartment is readily accessible. The grid wires. 11 arev held in by the casing, andl may be lifted out upon its removal. There are no controls in the toasting compartment, the warming-up control being operated primarily as a function of time of operation. The switches are easily detached by unscrewing the plate |52 from the baseplate 2|. The actuating mechanism may b e removed by detaching the rod from the extension |04. The clock motor is screwed to the bracket |00. The latch and power elements are immediately accessibleJ upon unscrewing of the bracket |00, which also releases the rods 98 and 99, and the associated parts of the toast rack support. l

The plates 25, and 2'| may be lifted out, after the cover |85 is removed. The heating elements may be liftedv out thereafter, when the electrical connections are unscrewed. The two toast supporting racks 90 and 9| may be unscrewed from the toast rack support after the heating elements are removed.

What is claimed is:

l. Tn a timing mechanism for a toaster which includes a toast rack mounted for movement between an operative position land a released position, and trip means releasably maintaining the toast rack in the operative position, an actuator rec-iprocably movable between first and second positions, the actuator actuating the trip means when in the r'st position so as to release the toast rack from the operative position, a motor, a member driven by the motor to move the actuator from second to first position, said Aember being mounted Vfor movement relative to the actuator without engaging it, but engage- -able with the actuator when the latter is in second position to move it to iirst position, means to adiustably limit the initial position of the memberrelative to the actuator, and means to control the start of the motor.

2. In a toaster or the like,'a food support movable from a determined 'released position to a determined captive cooking position, a heating element for cooking food when the support is in cooking position, a main switch, a timing device, and a heat-responsive switch operable as a function of heat generated by the heating element and closed upon becoming heated; means .to close the main switch when the food support is moved to cooking position; means operated by the timing device after a predetermined period of operation thereof to release the food support from the captive position and open the main switch; a first circuit branch including the main switch and the heating element; and a second circuit including the timing device and heat-responsive switch; the means operated by the timing device including an element movable between a set position and a trip position; means automatically moving it from the trip position to the set position when the main switch is opened, the timing device moving it from the set position to the trip position to release the food support from the captive position; and means to adjust the set position of said element relative to its trip position so as to preselect the distance it must travel under the action of the timing device to release the food support and open the main switch.

3. In a mechanism of the kind described, a constant speed timing motor, a releasing member driven by the motor from a predetermined rst position toV a predetermined second position, means to vary the said rst position and hence to adjust the time required t0 move the releasing member to its second position, an actuator movable from a released to an operated position, a device moved from first to second position by the movement vaforesaid of the actuator, latch means holding the device in second position, the releasing member being operated by the motor and moved toward the latch means to release the same when the releasing member reaches its second position.

4.; In a toaster or the like, a food support movable from released to cooking position and timecontrolled mechanism for moving the support to released position; a. latch device engageable to 4hold the food support in cooking position, a nor.-

mally inoperative timing motor having a releasing member operable upon the operation of the `motor to move from a starting ,position to a position wherein it engages said latch device to displace it and release the food support, spring means yieldably urging the release device into its starting position; and means dependent upon movement of the food support into cooking posi- -tion to start the timing motor.

5. In a toaster or the like, a food support movable from released to cooking position and timecontrolled mecbanism for automatically moving the food support back to released position; a latch engageable to hold the food support Yin cooking position; a timing motor; actuating means independent of the motor for moving the food support between the cooking position and the released position whereby the support may be manually moved without operation of the timing motor, means dependent upon moving of the food support to cooking position to start the motor, a releasing member moved from its starting position by the motor to release the latch after operation of the motor for a predetermined time so as to release the food support to cause it to move to its released position, and means automatically returning the releasing member to its starting position after it has released the latch.

S. In a toaster or the like, a food support movable from released to cooking position and timecontrolled mechanism for moving the support back to released position; a latch engageable to hold the food support in cooking position; a timing motor independent of the support whereby the support may be manually moved without operation of the timing motor, means dependent upon moving of the food support to cooking position to start the motor, a releasing member moved by the motor to cause the release of the latch after operation oi the motor for a predetermined time, means automaticallyreturning the releasing member to its starting position after it has released the latch; means to adjust the starting position of the releasing member to vary the time interval between start of the motor and release of the latch; manual actuating means displaceable from a starting to a second position and engageable with the food support to displace it to its cooking position, said means being movable relatively to the food support, the latch having a portion thereof displaced by ,its movement into latching position and into the path of the actuating means when the latter is returned to its starting position, the actuating means belng engageable by and displaceable by the releasing member so as to be returned to its starting position by said member, said displaceyl l ment' of the actuating means causing release of theV latch.

' 7. In a toaster or the like, a food support movvable from release to cooking position, and back,

a correspondingly movable actuator engageable with the food support to produce movement of 'l2 pivotally mounted lever member; an actuating member mounted above the food support and movable into contact therewith for forcing it from the released position to the cooking position, the actuating member being freely movable relative to the food support and containing a vertically extending slot therein; a rack segment mounted for vertical movement and containing support to cookingk position, a release member moved by the motor in the direction of movement of the actuator to release the latch and engageable with the actuator in thev cooking position of the latter to move the actuator toward release position, the release member' having an initial position relative to the actuator, and means for varying this initial position to vary the distance the release mem-ber must move to effect release of the latch in they manner aforesaid.

8. A toaster, including a food support movable between a released position and a cooking position; yieldable means urging the food support toward the released position; latch means for holding the food support in the cooking position, said latch means including a pivotally mounted lever member; an actuating member movable to pivot the lever member and release the latch means; a rack segment movable relative to the actuating member, the rack segment and the actuating member containing interengaging means for causing the actuating member to move with the rack segment when they attain a predetermined relative position; means for varying the initial position of the rack segment relative to the actuating member; yieldable means urging the rack segment away from engagement with the actuating member when the rack member is in its initial position; and a constant speed motor a projection disposed in the slot in the actuating member;A means for adjustably limiting the downward movement of the rack segment so as to vary the position thereof relative to the actuating member; a constant speed motor for moving the 'rack segment upwardly; interengaging means between the rack segment and the actuating member whereby the latter is moved upwardly with the rack segment; and means on the actuating member to contact the upper end of the lever member to pivot it so as to release the latch means, theactuating member also being manually movable toY contact the upper end of the lever member.

' CARYL A. LINDBERG.

REFERENCESA CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

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